RADIO
It's over about a third of the way through the fantasy basketball regular season. This is the time when fatigue can start taking it's toll, and dedicated managers who had poor luck in the draft can start making up serious ground in the standing by putting in the work.
Remember, these streamers are solely for short term gains in specific categories. For recommendations on guys to add for the long-term, be sure to check out our Waiver Wire Pickups List. Also, be sure to check out the rest of our Week 8 NBA coverage, including our recommendations for Waiver Wire Centers, Waiver Wire Forwards, and Waiver Wire Guards.
NBA Waiver Wire : Category Streamers – Weekend Edition (Week 8)
Weekend of 12/19 & 12/20
Teams with 2 games: None
Teams with 0 games: BOS, DAL, DET, GSW, SAS, UTH
Points
Omri Casspi (SF, SAC)
Owned in 37% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Sunday, Dec. 20 @ Toronto
ANALYSIS: The 27-year-old Israeli combo forward is quietly having his strongest season of his NBA career, and has emerged as a calming influence as well as an integral part of the Kings rotation. Casspi is playing with a sense of confidence on the floor that we haven’t seen, and it’s showing in the numbers. His 11.9 ppg average is a career high, and he has scored 15 ppg over his last 4 contests. What looks to be a tough matchup on paper is actually helped out by the fact that Toronto’s best wing defender, DeMarre Carroll, remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Rebounds
Steven Adams (C, OKC)
Owned in 8% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, December 19 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
ANALYSIS: Adams is a feisty, hard-nosed player around the basket. His 18 rebounds over his previous two games has come as a result of his aggressive play and a slight bump in minutes (22 and 32). His opponent this weekend, the Lakers, don’t have an answer in their frontcourt to his physical style, and Adams should be able to bruise his way to 8-10 rebounds, which could come as a major asset given Saturday’s dearth of action. For those wanting a player with more guaranteed time on the floor, Bismack Biyombo (17% ownership) remains a solid option while Jonas Valanciunas is out.
Assists
Jameer Nelson (PG, DEN)
Owned in 15% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Sunday, December 20 vs. New Orleans
ANALYSIS: Last month I put Nelson in this spot as he was just carving out a role in the Nuggets rotation. Now, as Emmanuel Mudiay works his way back from a sprained right ankle, he has emerged as the trusted veteran on a relatively young team for head coach Mike Malone. In his last 3 games, Nelson has averaged 6 assists in an average of over 30 minutes. Of course, if Mudiay is out through the weekend it would be fair to expect similar production, However, even if Mudiay returns this weekend, Nelson should continue to play enough to generate multiple assists against one of the NBA’s worst defenses.
Steals
O.J. Mayo (PG/SG, MIL)
Owned in 30% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Sunday, December 20 @ Phoenix
ANALYSIS: While Mayo’s overall career hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, he has remained a reliable pro, capable of getting hot for several weeks at a time. The Bucks have tinkered with their rotation all year, and Mayo appears to be one of the guys “in” right now. In his previous 4 contests, Mayo has averaged over 32 minutes, and has become quite the theft on defense. In those 4 games, he has averaged 2.3 steals, including 3 Wednesday night against the Clippers. Expect multiple steals Sunday against a Suns team whose 16.1 turnovers per game ranks 28th in the league.
Blocks
John Henson (PF/C, MIL)
Owned in 10% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Sunday, December 20 @ Phoenix
ANALYSIS: Not only are the Bucks battling injuries in their backcourt, but their frontcourt took a hit earlier this week when it was announced big free agent signee Greg Monroe would miss time with an MCL sprain. One of the players that has picked up some of his minutes is Henson, the long, wiry 4-year pro out of UNC. Throughout his brief career, Henson has shown an impeccable ability as a shot-blocker, which has been on full display in two games since Monroe went down. In back-to-back games this week against the two Los Angeles teams, Henson compiled 7 blocks.
Three Pointers
Channing Frye (PF/C, ORL)
Owned in 2% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Sunday, December 20 vs. Atlanta
OR
Isaiah Canaan (PG, PHI)
Owned in 12% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Sunday, December 20 @ Cleveland
ANALYSIS: Both Frye and Canaan have seen their roles change and had their minutes fluctuate dramatically over the seasons first two months. Recently though, both guys are playing steady minutes for their respective teams, and have been filling it up from downtown. Frye has knocked down 8 three-pointers in 2 games this week so far, and like Jameer Nelson above, has emerged as a reliable veteran on a young team. Canaan is currently stuck in a muddled point guard situation for the directionless 76ers. While in theory having to compete for playing time with other point guards on the roster like Kendall Marshall, Tony Wroten, and T.J. McConnell, Canaan is far and away the strongest shooter of the group, which will keep him on the floor for scoring and spacing purposes. Canaan’s 6 three-pointers Wednesday tied a season high, and though he most likely won’t repeat this on Sunday, the attempts will certainly be there for multiple treys.
